Egg handling conveyor for egg breaking machine



June 19, 1962 c. H. WILLSEY 3,039,591

' EGG HANDLING CONVEYOR FOR EGG BREAKING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 2,1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

6/3627'165 H WLZZ5% June 19, 1962 c. H. WILLSEY 3,039,591

EGG HANDLING CONVEYOR FOR EGG BREAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 OriginalFiled Oct. 2, 1958 June 19, 1962 c. H. WILLSEY 3,039,591

EGG HANDLING CONVEYOR FOR EGG BREAKING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 2,1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 n 4 Q-u- R M Q o a Q INVENTOR.

Ckarleafi Wd gy BY June 19, 1962 I c. H. WILLSEY EGG HANDLING CONVEYORFOR EGG BREAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed 001:. 2, 1956LIV June 19, 1962 c. H. WILLSEY 3,039,591

EGG HANDLING CONVEYOR FOR EGG BREAKING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 2,1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sttcs atent fi lC 3,039,591 EGG HANDLING CONVEYORFOR EGG BREAKING MACHINE Charles H. Willsey, 1717 E. 37th St., Topeka,Kans. Original application Oct. 2, 1956, Ser. No. 613,498. Divided andthis application Oct. 6, 1960, Ser. No.

9 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) This invention relates to egg handling apparatusand is more particularly concerned with improvements in a machine havingmechanism for feeding eggs to a series of devices for cracking orbreaking successive eggs and separating the broken shell portions so asto deliver the contents therefrom into traveling cup mechanisms whichare operated to separate the yolks from the whites.

This application is a division of Serial No. 613,498, filed October 2,1956, now Patent No. 2,966,184, to which reference may be had fordetails not hereinafter described.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improvedegg feeding mechanism for an egg cracking machine having mechanism forautomatically cracking or breaking the Shells of the successive eggs anddelivering the contents thereof from the broken shells to successivereceptacles which are carried on a separating conveyor, with the latterhaving associated therewith mechanism for advancing the successivereceptacles while simultaneously separating the yolks from the whites,and with adequate provisions for handling the eggs rapidly andefficiently and for maintaining the machine and the product thereof in asanitary condition.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide in an eggcracking machine a transfer mechanism for delivering a plurality of eggswhich are initially arranged in row formation, from a supply conveyor toa continuously moving feed conveyor on the cracking machine, with theeggs being delivered to the feed conveyor for advancing movement therebyin single file relation.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the egg handling apparatus which is shown by way ofillustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan View, of an egg breaking machine having a feedingmechanism embodying the principal features of the invention, withportions being broken away or omitted;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, on a larger scale, of one side of the machine,with portions of the mechanism being broken away or omitted;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, to a larger scale, of portions of themechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG/4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1, on an enlargedscale and with portions broken away;

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 66 of FIG. 4, with portionsbroken away;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section, taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1, to anenlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIG. 8 is a cross section, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 88 ofFIG. 1 with portions broken away; and

FIG; 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 2. Referringparticularly to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings,

' the general arrangement of the several mechanisms which areincorporated in the machine and the manner in which they cooperate inthe processing of the eggs will first be described briefly.

The machine preferably includes a shell egg supply mechanism in the formof an egg washing or cleaning device having an egg supporting endlwsconveyor 10 with the discharge or delivery end thereof positioned todeliver successive rows of 6 eggs each to a transfer or feed conveyor 11for the cracking and separating machine, as shown in FIG. 1. The eggs,as indicated at 12, are delivered after passage through the washer tothe endless chain feed conveyor 11 which is supported at its ends formovement in a horizontal path on the horizontally disposed end sprockets13 and 14, the latter being mounted on the upper end of a vertical driveshaft 15 which constitutes the main driving member for the entiremachine. The chain conveyor 11 carries a plurality of egg gripping orholding assemblies 16 for receiving the eggs 12 as they are delivered inrow formation by the supply conveyor 10 and for advancing the eggs 12 insingle row forming relation to a point adjacent the outer periphery ofthe end supporting sprocket 14 where the eggs are delivered to thecracking devices at the cracking station indicated at 17.

The eggs 12 are delivered, one by one, from the holding assemblies 16 onthe conveyor 11 to cracking assemblies 18 which are carried around theperiphery of a circular supporting frame or plate structure 19 mountedbelow the end sprocket 14 on the vertical power shaft 15. The crackingassemblies 18, to which the individual eggs 12 are delivered with thelong axis of the same extending vertically, are constructed to engagethe periphery of each successive egg and to advance the same in acircular path around the power shaft 15. The cracking assemblies 18 arepivotally connected to the periphery of the supporting frame plate 19and are operated as they advance to crack the egg shell and then swingdownwardly, as shown in FIG. 3, to a dumping position where they open upand separate the cracked shell into two portions or halves which allowsthe egg contents to drop by gravity into one of a plurality ofseparating devices 20 which are mounted in spaced relation on an endlessseparating conveyor 21, the latter having one end thereof supported on ahorizontally disposed end sprocket 22 (FIG. 2) secured on the verticalpower shaft 15 below the cracking head frame 19. The conveyor 21 has itsother end supported on a horizontally disposed idler sprocket 23 and themovement of the same is timed to align the separating devices 20 belowthe cracking assemblies 18 as they pass around the end sprocket 22. Theseparating devices 20 are advanced by conveyor 21 past an operator at aninspection station indicated at 24 in FIG. 1, and the yolks and whitesare separated by manipulation of the separating devices 20. Thereafter,the yolks and whites are delivered separately to chutes 25 and 26 andthence to collecting receptacles (not shown) for removal from themachine. Provision is made for dumping the contents, prior to separationof the yolks and whites, of any of the separating devices 20 into whichthe inspector finds a spoiled or inedible egg has been delivered or inwhich the yolk has been broken. A washing machine 27 is arranged alongthe return run of the conveyor 21 for cleaning and sterilizing theseparating devices 20 from which broken yolks or spoiled egg meats havebeen removed.

The conveyor 10 of the shell egg washing machine is arranged formovement of its upper run in a generally horizontal path slightly abovethe path of operation of the horizontal feed or transfer conveyor 11 ofthe cracking machine so that each line of eggs 12 is delivered over theend of the conveyor '10 and received in spaced relation in the gripperassemblies 16 on the conveyor 11. The con veyor 11 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5)comprises an endless chain 30 which is carried on driven sprocket 14 andthe idler sprocket 13. The sprocket 13 is secured on an upstanding stubshaft '32 which is journaled in a suitable bearing 33 mounted on thehorizontal support plate 34, the latter forming the top of the mainframe 35 of the machine. The sprocket 14 at the other end of the chain30 is mounted on the upper end of the upright vertical power shaft 15.The sprocket 13 carries on its uppermost face a hub formation 36 to theupper end of which there is secured a radial arm 37 having at its outerend an upstanding post 38 with a reduced portion 39 at its upper end onwhich a vertical sleeve 44b is rotatably mounted. The sleeve 4% has alaterally extending pivot pin 41 which is received in the bore of thecross head ii at the end of a pitman 43. At the other end the pitman 43receives in the bore of the cross head 44 a pin 45 extending upwardly ofa sleeve 46 which is mounted on a pin 17 extending laterally of atriangular shaped double plate bracket 43 which straddles a toothedwheel 49 secured on the end of a cross shaft 50 which supports one endof the conveyor 10. The framelike bracket 48 is pivotally mounted on theend of the shaft t and carries a pivoted dog 51 between its side plateswhich is urged by its spring 52 in a direction to engage with the teethin the wheel 49 when the bracket 48 is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection by the movement of the pitrnan 435 to index the conveyor 16and deliver a row of eggs 12 to the gripper assemblies 15 on theconveyor 11.

The gripper assemblies 16 are each mounted on the chain 31 by means of agenerally triangular shaped support or base plate 54, wh'ch base plateis attached to the chain by pins 55 forming connecting pivots betweenthe links of the chain. The base plate 5d is connected to the chainalong a base forming edge and has an upstanding flange 56 at its outerapex forming end which cooperates with an upstanding flange or tonguemember 57 at its base edge to provide bearing forming supports for ashaftlike inner arm or leg portion 53 of the bottom gripper member orclamp formation 59. The bearing support members 56 and 57 are aperturedto rotatably support the shaft forming leg 58 which is integral with anouter angular end portion on, the latter forming an angle somewhat lessthan 90 with the shaft portion 58 and in the normal egg receivingposition, as shown in FIG. 4, extending downwardly at an angle to thehorizontal so that its free end normally rests on the supporting frameplate 34. A U-shaped egg supporting member 61 is rigidly secured to theend of the shaft 58 at the juncture thereof with the outer end portion60. The U-shaped member is positioned with its parallel legs 6-2extending in the same general direction as the member of and is disposedhorizontally in angled relation with the member 66 so that in the eggreceiving position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is generally parallelto the top surface of the frame plate 34, and the bent end member 60angles downwardly therefrom in the direction of the trailing end of themember 61 for engagement with the top of the supporting plate member 34whereby the U-shaped member 61 is supported in a horizontal position andreceives an egg 12 from the conveyor 11) with the long axis of the eggextending generally parallel to the axis of the memher. The shaftforming member 53 and the associated members form the bottom jaw memberof the clamping assembly 16 for holding or gripping the eggs as they areforwarded by advancing movement of the conveyor chain 39. An upstandingbracket member 63 is secured to the shaft bearing member 56 which hasits upper side edges bent outwardly into spaced parallel relation toform bearing ears 64- which support a laterally extending bearing shaftpivot pin member 65. The pivot member 65 forms one end of a rod-likebracket member which is bent to form three sections of approximatelyequal length, the opposite end section 66 depending in a generallyvertical direction and extending transversely of the path of the chain30 and the center connecting section 67 being at right angles to the endsections 65 and as and extending in the same transverse direction as therespective end sections. The center section 67 is secured to anintermediate portion of one leg 63 of an L-shaped arm 69 forming theupper clamp arm of the gripper assembly 16, the other leg 70 of theclamp arm 69 extending parallel to the pivot member 65 and spacedoutwardly of the latter. In the egg clamping position, as shown in FIG.4, the

outer leg 7% of the clamp arm 69 is generally parallel to and spacedabove the U-shaped egg supporting member 61. The leg 68 of the clamp armor jaw member 69 terminates at its inner end in an upwardly bent portion'71 which forms a cam arm for engaging a cam bar 72 to control theswinging movement of the clamp arm 69 about its pivot 65. A torsionspring 73 is associated with the pivot member 55 and urges the clamp arm69 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, to bring the outer end70 of the clamp arm 69 into clamping engagement with the egg 12 when thelatter is positioned on the lower clamp member 61 of the gripperassembly.

The shaft portion 58 of the lower clamp jaw 59 is provided on its innerend with a triangular shaped stop plate or block member 74 (FIG. 6). Thestop block 74 is positioned above the recess 76 which is cut in the endof the supporting plate 54 in forming the upstanding flange member 57and rotates with the arm 58. In the position shown in FIG. 4 in whichthe eggs 12 are received from the conveyor 10 and in which the eggsupporting U- shaped member 61 is in a generally horizontal position,the stop block member 74 has the lowermost-one of its edges 75 restingat the end thereof on the top of the plate 54 adjacent the edge of therecess 76 with the adjoining edge 77 extending vertically at rightangles thereto and facing in the trailing direction relative to themovement of the chain 30. The apex joining the two edges 75 and 77 isrounded on a radius which permits the shaft 58 to rotate about itslongitudinal axis in its bearing supporting members 56 and 57 betweentwo positions. In one position the edge 75 is engaged with the top ofthe plate 54 at one side of recess 76 and in the other the edge 77 is soengaged with the plate 54 at the other side of therecess 76, the angleof rotation of the assembly being approxi-' mately 90 in a clockwisedirection as viewed from outboard of the conveyor 12. The position ofthe gripper assembly 16 when it is rotated is shown in FIG. 8 with theegg still being held between the U-shaped support portion 61 of thelower clamp member 59 and the arm 70 of the top clamp member 69'. Theopening and closing of the jaw forming members 59 and 69 of theassemblies 16 is controlled by the elongate cam bar or rail 72 which issupported above the frame plate 34 by angular upright brackets 78 spacedas shown in FIG. 1. The cam rail 72 has its ends 79 and 8d turnedupwardly to engage and release the upwardly angled end portion 71 of thetop clamp arm 69. The gripper assemblies 15 are, of course, held in theopen position for delivery of the eggs 12 from the conveyor 10 and aseach assembly 16 moves around the end sprocket 13, the cam arm 71 movesout from under the end 86 of the cam rail 72 and allows the torsionspring 73 to close the clamp arm 69 on the top of the egg 12 and holdthe same firmly as the assembly 16 is advanced by the conveyor 36 to thecracking station 17 at the other end of the conveyor 30. As each gripperas.- sembly 16 approaches the supporting sprocket 14 at the other end ofthe conveyor 30 it is held in a horizontal position by engagement of thedepending arm 69' with the top of the frame plate 34. As each assembly16 moves around the sprocket 14, the arm 60' moves down a ramp-likesection 81 which is formed at the end of the: plate 34 (FIG. 8), theweight of the egg and the position of the same relative to the axis ofthe rotatably mounted shaft 58 causing the assembly 16 to rotate aboutthe axis of the shaft 53. As the assembly 16 is advanced beyond. the endof the support plate 34, it rotates through an: angle of 90 so that theegg carried thereby is positioned with its long axis in the verticaldirection. A jaw releasing cam plate 32 having a curved cam edge 83 issupported on a vertically extending pin 8 on a bracket 85 secured at theend of the frame plate 34. As the gripper assembly 16 continues toadvance around the sprocket 14, the end portion 70 of the top clamp arm69 is engaged by the cam edge 83 and rotated sufficiently about thepivot member 65 to open up the clamp arms or jaw members 59 and 69 andrelease the egg 3,2 for gravity delivery to one of the crackingassemblies 18 which are carried on the supporting member 19 in spacedvertically aligned relation with the gripper assemblies 16 as they movearound the vertical shaft 15. Continued advance of the gripper assembly16 allows the clamp arms to close as the upper clamp arm 69 moves freeof the cam plate 82, and causes subsequent rotation of the assembly andreopening of the arms or the same as the member 60 engages a curvedextension 86 on the end of the frame plate 34 and the end member 71 ofthe top clamp arm 69 passes beneath the turned up end 7 9 of the camrail 72. As the assembly 16 moves along the rear run of the conveyorchain 30 it is in proper opened up position to receive an egg 12. fromthe conveyor 10.

The vertically mounted power drive shaft is supported in top and bottombearings 29?) and 294 (FIG. 2). A drive sprocket 295 is mounted on theshaft 15 adjacent the bottom bearing 294 and connected by a drive chain296 with the output sprocket 297 of a change speed de vice 298. Theinput shaft 299' of the change speed device 298 is connected to thepower shaft of a drive motor 300. A pulley 361 on the drive shaft 299 isconnected by a drive belt 302 with a pulley 363- on the end of the powershaft '274 for operating the washing apparatus. The motor 300 and thechange speed device 298 are mounted on a cross frame member 304 at thebottom of the machine, which also supports the bottom bearing 294 forthe vertical power shaft 15.

In operating the machine the eggs are delivered by the conveyor 10 tothe feed conveyor 11 and received in the holder assemblies 16, with theeggs being supplied in rows of 6 each as they come from a conventionalshipping case, and preferably with the eggs being washed and sterilizedwhile they are on the conveyor Ill. Each egg is carried by a holder 16to the delivery station A (FIGS. 1 and 8) where the holder assembly 16is allowed to rotate about the axis of the shaft 53 when the holder armof) moves down the ramp 81 (FIG. 8) at the end of plate 34. The holder:arm or jaw 69* engages with the cam plate 82 and opens'the holder toallow the egg to drop by gravity into a cracking assembly 18 which isaligned below the feed holder assembly 16. As the holder assembly 16passes the cam plate 82 the jaw 69 is released and the assembly isturned to its egg receiving position by engagement of the arm 69 withcam plate 86 and thereafter the arm 71 engages with cam rail 72 to openthe jaw 69 for receiving an egg as it passes along the discharge end ofconveyor it).

I claim:

1. In an egg breaking machine having a series of egg cracking assembliesmounted in peripherally spaced relation on a rotatable head for movementin a generally horizontal path, an egg supply conveyor mounted formovement in a generally horizontal path, a plurality of egg grippingdevices mounted on said supply conveyor in outwardly extending relation,said gripping devices each comprising a bottom clamp member and acooperating top clamp member, said clamp members being pivotallyconnected to each other intermediate their ends and having opposed eggengaging members at the outer ends thereof, 'a bracket plate secured tosaid conveyor, said lower clamp member having its inner end mounted forrotation ,on said bracket, power means connected to said conveyor foroperating the same in timed relation to the movement of said eggcracking assemblies and to align the egg gripping devices withsuccessive cracking assemblies, means along said conveyor forcontrolling the pivotal movement of said upper clamp member relative 1to said lower clamp member to grip an egg between the outer end portionsthereof, and means adjacent said cracking assemblies for rotatingsuccessive egg gripping devices to position the eggs therein with theirlong axis vertical for delivery to the cracking assemblies,

and means for pivoting said upper clamp members to release the eggstherefrom.

2. In an egg breaking machine having a turret head mounted for movementabout a vertical axis and a series of egg cracking assemblies mounted inperipherally spaced relation thereon, said cracking assemblies beingadapted to receive eggs delivered thereto with the long axis extendinggenerally vertical, an egg delivery conveyor mounted above said turrethead, a series of egg gripping and carrying devices mounted on saidconveyor for movement in a path above the path of movement of saidcracking assemblies, means connected to the conveyor for operating thesame to align the egg gripping and carrying devices thereon withsuccessive egg cracking assemblies, said gripping and carrying devicescomprising a supporting plate secured to said conveyor, a pair ofpivotally connected arm members, said arm members having cooperatingjaws at one end thereof for gripping an egg upon opening and closingmovement of said jaws, one of said arm members being rotatably mountedat its other end on said supporting plate for movement about an axisextending normal to the path of movement of the conveyor, means adjacentsaid conveyor for holding the jaws of said gripping and carrying devicesin an open position for receiving an egg between the same with the longaxis thereof generally horizontal, means operative upon the gripping andholding devices for rotating the same when they are aligned with the eggcracking assemblies to position the eggs therein with the long axisgenerally vertical, and means adjacent the egg cracking assemblies foroperating the arm members of successive gripping and holding devices trelease the eggs therefrom for delivery tosaid egg cracking assemblies.

3. In an egg breaking machine having a turret head mounted for rotationabout a vertical axis and a series of egg cracking assemblies mounted inperipherally spaced relation thereon, said cracking assemblies beingadapted to receive eggs delivered thereto with the long axis extendinggenerally vertical, an egg delivery conveyor mounted adjacent saidturret head, a series of egg gripping and carrying devices mounted onsaid conveyor and extending outwardly thereof for movement in a pathabove and generally parallel to the path of movement of said crackingassemblies, means connected to the conveyor for operating the same tovertically align the egg gripping and carrying devices thereon withsuccessive egg cracking assemblies, said gripping and carrying devicescomprising a mounting plate secured to said conveyor, a pair ofpivotally connected arm members, said arm members having cooperatingjaws on one end thereof for gripping an egg upon opening and closingmovement of said jaws, spring means urging said jaws toward closedposition, one of said arm members being rotatably attached to saidmounting plate for movement about an axis extending normal to the pathof movement of the conveyor, means adjacent said conveyor for engagingthe other arm member to move the same to an open position for receivingan egg therebetween with the long axis thereof generally horizontal,means for holding said devices in egg receiving position, said lastmentioned means being interrupted to permit the devices to rotate whenthey are aligned with the egg cracking assemblies to position the eggstherein with the long axis generally vertical, and cam means adjacentthe egg cracking assemblies for engaging an arm member of successivegripping and holding devices to release the eggs therefrom for deliveryto said egg cracking assemblies.

4. In an egg breaking machine wherein a supporting frame is mounted formovement about a vertical axis and is provided with a series of eggcracking assemblies which are mounted in peripherally spaced relationthereon, said cracking assemblies being adapted to receive eggs delivered thereto with the long axis extending generally vertical, an eggdelivery conveyor mounted above said turret head, a series of egggripping and carrying devices mounted on said conveyor for movement in apath above the path of movement of said cracking assemblies, meansconnected to the conveyor and operating the same to align the egggripping and carrying devices thereon with successive egg crackingassemblies, said gripping and carrying devices comprising a supportingplate secured to said conveyor and having upstanding bearing formingmembers, a pair of pivotally connected arm members having cooperatingjaws at one end thereof for gripping an egg upon opening and closingmovement of said jaws, one of said arm members comprising a shaftforming member journaled in said bearing forming members on saidsupporting plate for movement about an axis extending normal to the pathof movement of the conveyor, means along said conveyor for holding thejaws of said gripping and carrying devices in an open position forreceiving an egg between the same with the long axis thereof generallyhorizontal, said means being interrupted at said cracking assemblies topermit rotation of said devices to position the eggs therein with thelong axis generally vertical, and means adjacent the egg crackingassemblies for moving the arm members of successive gripping and holdingdevices to release the eggs therefrom for delivery to said egg crackingassemblies.

5. In an egg breaking machine having a series of egg cracking assembliesmounted in peripherally spaced relation on a rotatable support, whichsupport is mounted for movement about a generally vertical axis, an eggsupply conveyor mounted for movement in a path above the path of saidcracking assemblies, a plurality of egg gripping devices mounted on saidsupply conveyor in outwardly extending relation, said gripping deviceseach comprising a bottom clamp member and a cooperating top clampmember, said clamp members being pivotally connected to each otherintermediate their ends and forming opposed jaw members for engagingeggs with the long axis thereof generally parallel with the conveyor, abracket plate secured to said conveyor, said lower clamp member havingits inner end mounted on said bracket plate for rotation about ahorizontal, outwardly directed axis, power means connected to saidconveyor for operating the same in timed relation to the movement ofsaid egg cracking assemblies and to align the egg gripping devices abovesuccessive cracking assemblies, means for controlling the pivotalmovement of the jaw members to grip an egg between the same, and meansfor rotating successive egg gripping devices to position the eggstherein with their long axis vertical for delivery to the crackingassemblies, and means for pivoting said upper clamp members to releasethe eggs therefrom.

6. In an egg breaking machine having'a series of egg cracking assembliesmounted in peripherally spaced relation about a turret, which turret issupported for movement about a vertical axis, said cracking assembliesbeing adapted to receive eggs delivered thereto with the long axisextending generally vertical, an egg delivery conveyor mounted abovesaid turret, a series of egg gripping and carrying devices mounted onsaid conveyor for movement in a horizontal plane, means connected to theconveyor for operating the same to aL'gn the egg gripping and carryingdevices thereon with successive egg cracking assemblies, said grippingand carrying devices each comprising a supporting plate secured inoutwardly extending relation on said conveyor, a pair of pivotallyconnected arm members, said arm members having cooperating jaws forgripping an egg upon opening and closing movement thereof, one of saidarm members being rotatably mounted on said supporting plate formovement about an axis extending normal to the path of movement of theconveyor, means for holding the jaws of said gripping and carryingdevices in an open position for receiving an egg between the same withthe long axis thereof generally horizontal, and means for rotating thedevices when they are aligned with the egg cracking assemblies toposition the eggs therein with the long axis generally vertical fordelivery to said egg cracking assemblies.

7. In an egg breaking machine having a series of egg cracking assembliesmounted in peripherally spaced relation on a turret, which turret issupported for rotational movement about a vertical axis, an egg deliveryconveyor mounted above said cracking assemblies, a series of egggripping and carrying devices mounted on said delivery conveyor andextending outwardly thereof for movement in a path above and generallyparallel to the path of movement of said cracking assemblies, meansconnected to the conveyor for operating the same to vertically align theegg gripping and carrying devices thereon with successive egg crackingassemblies, said gripping and carrying devices each comprising amounting member secured to said conveyor, a pair of pivotally connectedarm members having cooperating jaws on one end thereof for gripping anegg upon opening and closing movement thereof, spring means urging saidjaws toward closed position, one of said arm members being rotatablyattached to said mounting member for movement about an axis extendingnormal to the path of movement of the conveyor, means for engaging theother arm member to move the same to an open position for receiving anegg with the long axis thereof generally horizontal, and means forsupporting said devices in egg receiving position as they are advancedby the conveyor, said last mentioned means being interrupted to permitthe devices to rotate when they are aligned with the egg crackingassemblies to position the eggs for delivery thereto with the long axisgenerally vertical.

8. In an egg handling machine, an egg delivery conveyor mounted formovement in a horizontal path, a series of egg gripping and carryingdevices mounted on said conveyor, said gripping and carrying devicescomprising a supporting plate secured to said conveyor and havingupstanding bearing forming members, a pair of pivotally connected armmembers having cooperating jaws for gripping an egg upon opening andclosing movement thereof, one of said arm members comprising a shaftforming member journaled in said bearing forming members on saidsupporting plate for rotational movement about an axis extendingoutwardly of the path of movement of the conveyor, means for supportingsaid arm members with the jaws in an open position for receiving an eggbetween the same with the long axis thereof generally horizontal, saidmeans being interrupted at a predetermined point along the path of theconveyor to permit rotation of said devices to position the eggs thereinfor discharge with the long axis generally vertical.

9. In an egg handling apparatus, a traveling conveyor mounted formovement in a horizontal path, a series of egg gripping devices on saidconveyor, each of said devices being mounted for rotation on an axisextending outboard of said conveyor, each said device comprising a pairof jaw members pivotally connected to each other for opening and closingmovement to grip an egg between the same, means for guiding said devicesalong a portion of the path of the conveyor with the jaws positioned forgripping the eggs with the long axis of the eggs extending in thedirection of movement of the conveyor and means for rotating saiddevices to position the eggs with the long axis extending at rightangles to the direction of movement of the conveyor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,942,719 Bofinger June 28, 1960

